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Latrodectus geometricus Koch (Brown widow)

Brown widow spiders have several distinct characteristics that can help you spot them:

Female spiders are larger than males. Females are about 1/2 inch long with their legs fully extended. Males are significantly smaller.

Both males and females have brown bodies with tan and black legs. They also have an orange hourglass marking on their abdomen.

The egg sac of the brown widow spider is covered in small spikes instead of being smooth.

INTERESTING FACTS

Brown widow spiders’ webs are irregular, very sticky and tend to look tangled.  For this reason, some people call brown widows “cobweb” spiders.

Spiders belonging to the Theridiidae family are known as comb-footed spiders because of the comb-like rows of stout, curved bristles on the tarsi (feet) of the hind pair of legs.

Family Name:
Theridiidae
Common Name:
The brown widow spider